Deposed Bangladeshi President Announces List of Election CandidatesThe Islami Oikya Front, an alliance of five political groups led by one faction of Jatiya party (JP) headed by deposed president HM Ershad Tuesday night announced a list of 288 candidates out of 300 for the general election due on October 1.But chiefs of two components - JP Chairman Ershad and Islami Constitution Movement Amir (Chief) Pir Fazlul Karim will not contest the general election. The JP president has been barred from contesting the election because he was convicted in a corruption charge. Of the total 288 seats, the JP got 254, the Islami Constitution Movement got 21, the Muslim League 5 and 8 seats for the rest two partners. Ershad was elected from five seats in the general elections in 1991 and 1996 from his home district northern Rangpur. Announcing the list Ershad said securing maximum number of seats is their target in the election. He said that his alliance would get at least 35 seats, the number his party won in 1991 election. But JP won 32 seats in the general elections in 1996. The former president thinks he will be king-maker after the upcoming general elections because what he said both the major parties in the country the immediate past ruling Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia would not get enough seats to form government. |
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